What is HOME

The afternoon sky was pale orange as Lica stood in front of her laboratory window. The reflection of her face was faint in the glass—tired eyes, hair that was no longer neat and something deeper.. a void that is difficult to explain. Behind her the machine stood. Not big. Not grandiose. Just a metal ring with a core of blue light in the center, beating slowly light a living heart. But Lica knew that is always capable of doing something that even time itself would not allow—folding it. “Coordinates ready”, the system’s voice sounded flat. Lica did not move immediately. Her hand gripped a small object in his suit pocket. An old photo. The corners are worn out, the color is starting to fade. She removed it slowly. In the photo, there is a little girl—herself—standing in front of a simple house with white fence. Next to him, a woman smiled warmly. Her mother. Lica stared at the photo for a long time. “I just wanna to go back,” she whispered. Not going back the past. Not correcting mistakes. Only.. Back to feel what home is. “Start the process,” she said finally. The blue light machine magnified. The air around vibrated subtly, like reality was holding its breath. “Warning: temporal coordinates are unstable.” “I know.” “Risk of losing identity synchronization: high.” Lica closed her eyes for a moment. “I’ve lost that a long time ago.” The steps go into the circle of light. For a moment, there was nothing. Then— Everything changed. ⸻ A sound. Not the sound of machines. Not the sound of the city. But something more… alive. Children’s laughter. Lica opened her eyes. She stood on a small road. Cracked asphalt, trees lining both sides, and the air… warm. Not artificial warmth like in the modern—but warmth that felt real. She turned her head slowly. Small houses stood in rows. The paint wasn’t perfect. Wooden fences leaned slightly. But everything felt… alive. “This…” her breath caught. She recognized the place. Or at least—she had once known it. ⸻ Her steps were slow, almost hesitant. Each step felt like a dream that could shatter at any moment. Until she stopped. In front of a house with a white fence. The paint was slightly peeling. The wooden door was simple. And in the yard, there was a small plant she used to water every afternoon. Her hand trembled. “Impossible…” she whispered. She moved closer. Every second felt too fast and too slow at once. She raised her hand, wanting to touch the fence. Before— The door opened. ⸻ A woman stepped out. Her hair was simply tied back. Her face was gentle. And her smile… That smile. Lica froze. “Mom…?” her voice was barely audible. The woman did not answer. Did not look at her. She simply walked past Lica, as if Lica wasn’t there. As if… she truly wasn’t. ⸻ The world collapsed in silence. Lica turned, panicked. “Mom! I’m here!” No response. She tried to touch the woman’s hand— Her hand passed through. Like air. ⸻ “No…” Lica stepped back. “No, no, no…” A system voice echoed in her mind. Identity synchronization: failed. Status: observer. Lica fell silent. Tears slipped down without a sound. She was here. In the place she had always called home. In the time that should have been hers. But she couldn’t touch it. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t… return. ⸻ From inside the house, a small voice was heard. “Mom! Look at me!” Lica turned quickly. A little girl ran out. Messy hair. Bright face. Hands covered in dirt. Lica knew her. It was herself. A version of her that hadn’t lost anything yet. ⸻ Lica fell to her knees. Her eyes couldn’t leave the scene. She saw her mother laugh. Saw her younger self smiling without a burden. Saw the world that once felt so whole. And for the first time since she began her journey through time— She truly understood. Home wasn’t a place. Not a time. Home was something she could no longer touch. ⸻ Blue light began to appear around her. Time was up. “No… wait…” she whispered desperately. She reached out, trying to grasp that image— that laughter— that warmth— But everything faded. ⸻ As the world returned to darkness, only one question remained in her mind: If my home still exists… but I can’t return, can it still be called home?